Annandale, NSW

Annandale is located about 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district. 

 Eora People

Various British officers asked the Aboriginal people around Sydney what they were called. Judge Advocate David Collins, in his vocabulary (1798), wrote. "Eo-ora – The name common for the natives". William Dawes recorded "Eoora  -Men, or people". See more

The writings of Lieutenant William Dawes are the major source of information about the Aboriginal language of Sydney. Read here

The land was covered in eucalyptus forest.

Natives of New South Wales; drawn from life in Botany Bay, 1805, SLNSW Here

1788 (Arrival of First Fleet)

Annandale Farm was established in the present day suburbs of Stanmore and Annandale, known as Johnston's Bush.

Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston (19 March 1764 – 5 January 1823), a British military officer who served as Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales, was born at Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, the son of Captain George Johnston, aide-de-camp to Lord Percy, later the 2nd Duke of Northumberland.

At age 12 in 1776, Johnston joined the Royal Marines as second lieutenant. And, from 1877-8, he took part in the American Revolutionary War.

Johnston accompanied the First Fleet to New South Wales aboard the convict transport Lady Penrhyn in 1788. He received extensive land grants including what is now the suburb of Annandale. The farm was named after Johnston's birthplace in Scotland, Annan.

The de facto wife of George Johnston was Esther Abrahams (born c. 1767 or 1771 – 26 August 1846), a convict from a London Jewish family.

Esther would give birth to 7 children with Johnston.

Captain George Robert. Johnston, R.N.of Annandale, near Sydney. Esther Johnstone, ca. 1830, [attributed], later vintage gelatin silver print of the original oil painting, State Library of New South Wales.

1800s

In 1808, Johnston led his troops in deposing Governor Bligh in the Rum Rebellion. This is the only time
that military force has been used to overthrow a government in Australia.

Johnston's farm provided meat for the colony of New South Wales. The actual house was located in Stanmore near present-day Northumberland Avenue. Esther also installed a kosher kitchen at Annandale House.

Windsor and Richmond Gazette (NSW : 1888 - 1965)

Johnston died aged fifty nine in 1823.

At Annandale:

The house, which was one of the most
fashionable city homes, was a long, low.
well-built cottage of the superior semi-
country type. It stood on a hill, and
with, its huge collection of outhouses
resembled a little fortress. It was a
miniature township, with its slaughter-
yard, butchery, bakery, smithy, wheel
wright's shop, corn-mill and store. Sol-
diers were stationed there, and convicts
who were punished, so the story goes
for misdemeanors by a sojourn in the
dungeons. It is a shame to disillusion
the romance-lovers by saying that the
fearsome dungeons were merely cellars.
Smith's Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1919 - 1950) Sat 27 Apr 1935

Annandale Tollgates were installed in 1838.

New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), Tuesday 4 December 1849 

1870s

George's son Robert inherited the Annandale Farm estate, but sold it to John Young, a businessman, architect and mayor, in 1877. Young began turning the Johnston estate into a charming suburb.

Young built eight houses on Johnston Street. The houses were named: Kenilworth, Highroyd, Hockingdon, Claremont, Rozelle, Oybin, Greba and The Abbey. Two houses, Rozelle and Claremont, have been demolished and replaced with blocks of home units. The Abbey, a sandstone, house built in the Victorian Free Gothic style still exists. 

Young lived in the house known as Kentville, which has also been demolished. Young is often called the "father of bowls" in New South Wales. He laid down a green at his home, Kentville, and in 1878, the Annandale Bowling Club was established.

1880s

A Primitive Methodist Church was built in Annandale in 1883.

The Annandale Public School opened in 1886.

The Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church was built from 1886 to 1889.

Kenilworth, in Johnston Street, Annandale, was built 1888-1889. Sir Henry Parkes (Father of Federation) lived here in the last years of his life and died there in 1896.

Johnston St, Annandale. NSW, 1880-1893 x SLNSW.The first house built was "The Abbey" in 1880 and it is still there at 272 Johnston St, North Annandale.

Johnson Street, Annandale, NSW, c1880. NLAUST

The houses of John Young, Annandale, NSW, 1880s

1890s

Jubilee Park viaduct, a 28-span brick arch viaduct, was built from 1892 on a curve extending from the east of Jubilee Park at Victoria Road to The Crescent, Annandale.

The Colonnade Hall, Annandale, was built in 1894.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Friday 7 August 1896

The Queen Victoria Maternity home for unmarried mothers at 61 Albion Street, Annandale opened in 1895 at no cost to the women. 

In 1896 when Sir Henry Parkes died, aged 80, in poverty at “Kenilworth” Johnston Street, Annandale, his body was conveyed by funeral train to Faulconbridge Cemetery.

Funeral cortege of Sir Henry Parkes, may 1896. leaving his home Kenilworth: 260 Johnston Street, Annandale. he Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, Sat 9 May 1896

Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), Sunday 18 July 1897

1900s

Subdivision plan of the Annandale farm finished in 1901.

Goodmans Buildings & Johnston St, Annandale, NSW c 1900

Norfolk Island Pines on the carriageway to Parramatta Road at Annandale Farm, NSW, pines chopped down 1905

Photo of Annandale, NSW, about 1903 from the Foster Collection, part of a RAHS archive at State Library.

Photo of Annandale, NSW, about 1903 from the Foster Collection, part of a RAHS archive at State Library.

Photo of Annandale, NSW, about 1903 from the Foster Collection, part of a RAHS archive at State Library. Felling the pines.

Annandale House was demolsihed in 1905. NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938)

The Annandale gate house still exists and the gates are now at Annandale Public school. The former gatehouse to Annandale. Farm is located off Corunna Lane (96 Corunna Road -rear of site).

Dwellings in Water and Gordon Streets Annandale, NSW, circa 1909, City of Sydney

Star (Sydney, NSW : 1909 - 1910), Tuesday 21 June 1910

 A Remarkable Industry — Views in the Piano Factories at Annandale., NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 24 May 1911

ANNANDALE DISTRICT RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM—— Left to right — G. Munce, F. Gressier, W. Haddock, W. Geoghegan, E. Burdett, C. Hedley (captain), W. Thomas, Rex Norman, J. Rosewell,
P. Bolt, Ray Norman, B. Gray, G. Wilcox, Roy Norman, R. Stuart.Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 12 July 1911

At South Annandale Superior Public School a flag to be sent to Annan, Scotland, was unfurled. The picture shows the pupils assembled for the ceremony.Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 29 May 1912

WWI

TWO FALLEN PIPERS. - ' PIPER D.- M'DONALD, (ANNANDALE);-
DIED -OF -WOUNDS. Piper D. M'Donald was tbe son of Mr. and Mrs.- John M'Donald, . of Young Street, Annandale, Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Saturday 12 June 1915

MRS. EMMA JANSEN, OF ANNANDALE, AND HER SOLDIER SONS.

Top Row - Sergeant John W. Jansen (39) Bengal Army Police, and Corporal RobertJansen (27). late of the Second Middlesex Regiment. Mlddle Row. — Private Richard G. Jansen (21). A.I.E.F. (recently ill at Malta), and Private Leonard J. Jansen (I8), A.I.E.F., Gallipolli. Bottom Row. — Staff-Sergeant-Major Francis B. Jansen (24). Armidale, and Private Laurence G. Jansen (37). A.I.E.F., wounded, Gallipoli
Mrs. Jansen, whois a widow, and who came from England four years ago, is the mother of
16 children, Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Friday 6 August 1915

The Tarlingtons of Annandale 1. P'TE. J. TARLINGTON, Killed in France. 2. PTE. A. TARLINGTON, Returned and discharged unfit.  3. PTE. H. TARLINGTON, Returned and discharged. 4. PTE. R. TARLINGTON. Now on way to front. 5. PTE. E. TARLINGTON, invalided home.Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 18 October 1916,

1920s

The Abbey was converted into flats in the 1920s, became a private home in 1959, and was then unoccupied until 2008.

Located on Johnson Street, the Royal Theatre opened in 1925 with seating for 1,333 patrons.

NOT POPULAR WITH TRAFFIC. This telephone box near the centre of the road in Johnston Street, Annandale, has been knocked over three times recently. Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Friday 14 June 1929

(Edgar Rein who also operated the Olympia Theatre in Annandale and the Strand Theatre in nearby Leichhardt), Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), Sunday 8 September 1929

1930s

Gothic Revival church with very tall steeple with four minor spires - Hunter Baillie Church, Annandale, NSW, in the 1930s (built from 1886 to 1889)

1940s and WWII

A DC3 Plane Towed On The Corner Of Johnston Street And Parramatta Road, Annandale NSW, 1942

Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), Tuesday 23 June 1942,

Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Sunday 26 December 1948

Parramatta Road, Annandale, NSW, in February 1950, SMH

CIB defectives are investigating explosions which wrecked, two furniture factories in the same Annandale building last night. Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Thursday 8 March 1951

Tram in Booth St Annandale, New South Wales, 1955, SLNSW

Booth Street near Annandale Street Annandale, NSW, 1958, City of Sydney

Booth Street at Johnston Street Annandale, NSW, 1958, City of Sydney

The Crescent Harold Park (Annandale), NSW, 1958, City of Sydney

1960s

During the 1960s and 1970s, many Annandale heritage buildings were in danger of demotion. See here

2015 

In 2015, a property developer who illegally demolished a 100-year-old shopfront (the Edwardian facade located next to the iconic Annandale Hotel) in Annandale, was fined $200,000.

Around Annandale

Goodman's Buildings at 2-12 Johnston Street, Annandale, NSW, was built in stages between 1890 and 1912 (Victorian styled building)

The former Annandale Council Chambers, Annandale, NSW, at 79 Johnston Street, was built in 1899, in the Victorian style

The Abbey, Annandale, NSW, a Gothic revival mansion built in 1881-1882

Stained glass in The Abbey, Annandale, NSW, a Gothic revival mansion built in 1881-1882

Kenilworth, one of the ”witches houses” in Annandale, NSW, built in 1888, its most famous resident, Henry Parkes

Pen Dinas, Annandale, NSW, was built c1893, for a former sea captain

The Colannade , Johnston Street, Annandale., NSW, was built in 1894

The Annandale Post Office, NSW,  was built between 1895 and 1896 

Perfect Match street artworks being painted across the Inner West, Annandale, NSW

Heritage houses, Annandale, NSW

Annandale Hotel, NSW, built in the 1930s

Jubilee Park viaduct is a 28-span brick arch viaduct was built from 1892 on a curve extending from the east of Jubilee Park at Victoria Road to The Crescent, Annandale, NSW

Colonnade Hall, Annandale, NSW, built 1894

The gatehouse, last surviving building of Annandale Farm, NSW, view from rear lane Casliber - Own work

Things To Do and Places To Go

Annandale Heritage Walk